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Method of making metal contacts and interconnections for VLSI devices with copper as a primary conductor

Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1985-05-10
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Granted: 1988-05-03
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Expires: 2005-05-10
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Abstract

Abstract Metal contacts and interconnections for integrated circuits utilize copper as the primary conductor, with the copper being totally encased in refractory metal layers on both top and bottom surfaces and also sidewalls. The contact hole in silicon oxide may be filled with a plug of refractory metal before the copper is deposited, or the first refractory metal layer may be conformally deposited to coat the sidewalls of the hole.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert C. Hooper
  • 👤 Bobby A. Roane
  • 👤 Douglas P. Verret

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 23:55
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W20/00; H10W20/40; H10W20/41; H10W20/425; H10W20/01; H10W20/031; H10W20/064; H10W20/44; H10W20/4403; H10W20/4421; H10W20/4424; H10W72/00; H10W72/90; H10W72/50; H10W72/531; H10W72/536; H10W72/551; H10W72/552; H10W72/5522; H10W72/59; H10W74/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S438/00; Y10S438/902

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 94 words
A method of making a semiconductor device comprising the steps of: applying a coating of an insulator material on a face of a semiconductor body, forming in said coating a contact or a via hole, depositing a first conducting barrier layer on said face whereby the sidewalls of said hole are coated, forming a copper strip over said first conductor, selectively depositing by chemical vapor deposition a second conducting barrier layer on said face to cover only said copper strip on the top and sidewalls of the copper strip, thereby encasing the copper strip.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 94 words
A method of making a semiconductor device comprising the steps of: applying a coating of an insulator material on a face of a semiconductor body, forming in said coating a contact or a via hole, depositing a first conducting barrier layer on said face whereby the sidewalls of said hole are coated, forming a copper strip over said first conductor, selectively depositing by chemical vapor deposition a second conducting barrier layer on said face to cover only said copper strip on the top and sidewalls of the copper strip, thereby encasing the copper strip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 29 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said semiconductor body is silicon, said insulator coating includes silicon oxide, and said first and second conducting barrier layers are refractory metal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said second conducting barrier layer is tungsten.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 14 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said first conducting barrier layer is molybdenum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 34 words
A method according to claim 1 including the step of substantially filling said contact hole by selectively depositing by chemical vapor deposition a plug barrier metal layer before depositing said first conducting barrier layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 18 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of forming the copper strip is by selective plating.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 18 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of depositing the conducting barrier layer is by sputtering.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 18 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of forming a copper strip is by selective plating.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 22 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein said contact hole is selectively filled with conductor material before depositing said first barrier layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 16 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein said conductor material filling said contact hole is tungsten.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 83 words
A method of forming a conductor strip along the face of a semiconductor body, comprising the steps of: applying a first coating on said face composed of a first barrier metal, forming a copper strip along said face over said first coating, selectively conformally coating by chemical vapor deposition a second barrier metal onto the top and sidewalls of said copper strip so as to coat only the copper strip and completely encase the copper in said first and said second barrier metal.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 83 words
A method of forming a conductor strip along the face of a semiconductor body, comprising the steps of: applying a first coating on said face composed of a first barrier metal, forming a copper strip along said face over said first coating, selectively conformally coating by chemical vapor deposition a second barrier metal onto the top and sidewalls of said copper strip so as to coat only the copper strip and completely encase the copper in said first and said second barrier metal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 13 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein said second barrier metal is tungsten.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 15 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein said first barrier metal is molybdenum or tungsten.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 14 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein said refractory metal is applied by sputtering.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein said first coating is patterned by etching after said copper strip has been formed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 13 words
A method according to claim 15 wherein said first barrier metal is molybdenum.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4109297A Cited
JPS5263069A Cited
US4367119A Cited
US4541169A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-05-03 1991-11-02 1992-05-03 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-05-03 1995-11-02 1996-05-03 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-05-03 1999-11-02 2000-05-03 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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